Sock-it-to-YOU!
Let’s get moving on the People’s Place Project Santa Sock Drive!
What did one new sock say to the other? “Great things are afoot!”
It’s Project Santa time again and we’ve been asked by our friends at People’s Place to host a sock drive. All sizes and shapes of new socks will be needed. Plain socks, character socks, slipper socks, heavy winter socks, crew socks and knee socks are needed for infants all the way up to 14 year-old boys and girls. Your donations of new, quality socks will warm the toes and hearts of our young neighbors. Please be generous.
You can drop off the socks in the box by the rectory. Or send a check to the church with “SOCK DRIVE” in the note line and we will shop for you. All donations must be dropped off no later than Sunday, December 6th.
Thank you from Elaine Lawrence and Deacon Sue on behalf of the Outreach Committee.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Tending Our Light
Our weekly offering of goodness to help keep our spirits buoyed and our mental health on track through the darker months of winter.
We at St. John’s, along with just about every other faith community across the world, have become used to worshipping at home. Thankfully, internet platforms offer us a way to see and hear one another as well as be together for common worship. But that doesn’t replace the special feel that a church building can be for us, a literal sanctuary that holds our prayers and where we are reminded of God’s love by the beauty, memories, and hope that have a home there.
A few folks at St. John’s have been scheming to help us all create a sacred space in our homes, a sanctuary within a sanctuary, for the coming seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Roxanne Ferber, Leah Siuta, Cathe Decker, and Rev. Michelle are putting together Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Boxes to assist with your at-home worship through the next few seasons. These boxes will be filled with worship practices and items as well as simple crafts – for adults and kids – to help us create sacred spaces in our homes since we cannot be together in the St. John’s Sanctuary for these seasons.
Be sure to sign up now for your Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Box! If you would like to have children’s crafts, we need to know that too! Most importantly, we need your name on or before Monday, Nov. 23 so that we can plan for enough materials. The Boxes will be delivered by Rev. Michelle on Sunday, Nov. 29, the first day of Advent.
Then, look for new videos on our youtube channel that will offer stories and instruction to go along with the Boxes. We’ll keep you informed about new videos as they are posted in this Newsletter.
_______________________________________________________________________________
On Cycles and Hope
Dear Ones: As many of you know, Ana and I expanded our garden this year and jumped into the world of growing vegetables. This came along with growing most things from seeds, which I found to be thrilling and frustrating at the same time. Mostly, however, it was joyful and lifegiving and truly sustained me during these past months of the pandemic.
We had a huge crop of 4 different kinds of tomatoes along with the delicata squash, jalapeno peppers, radishes, lettuces, spinach, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, snap peas, and green beans. We also continued growing herbs and flowers. It was so much fun and an incredible learning experience. Ana has done this before so she was senior advisor to me, along with Monty Don, our favorite television gardener (you can learn more about him here). And I did my best to share it all with you all via Instagram and Facebook.
Then, our first frost came in late October. Of course, this signaled to us the end of the growing season and we began the process of putting the garden to bed for the winter so the soil and the beds would be in good shape for spring planting. We removed all the vegetation as we said thank you for all of the hope that the earth and these plants gave us this year during such a time of confusion, fear, and grief. And as I placed the remnants of these plants into our compost piles, instead of feeling a sense of loss, I found myself filled with hope. Because I realized that we were clearing the space for something new to grow.
I was watching a show about gardening recently where a British journalist was being interviewed. During the course of the interview, she explained just how much her family has gone through and is still going through due to the pandemic. And she said one of the most inspiring things, “You can’t think short-term in a garden. You have to plan; you have to have hope. You have to invest in a future. You don’t plant something unless you believe it’s going to come up.”
Just thinking about all that we can grow in the coming year, fills me with hope.
In God’s love and mine, Rev. Michelle
_______________________________________________________________________________
Announcements for November 22, 2020
Sign up today! To receive your Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Worship Box. Each box is filled with items for your home worship through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. And if you have children, we’ll send along some seasonal crafts too! The boxes will be delivered on Sunday, November 29, the first day of Advent. The deadline to sign-up is Monday, Nov 23. Click here: http://www.stjohnskingston.org/advent-christmas-epiphany-box-sign-up/
Please continue to send your pledges in! Drop off your pledge leaves and pledge form at the Rectory or mail them in and we’ll continue putting them on the tree. Using the theme of Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed, we’re focusing on how all of our giving – time, talent, treasure – is the seed that grows our St. John’s community. If you did not receive a letter, please contact Lynn Dennison from the Stewardship Committee.
Gathering in Gratitude – the annual Kingston Interfaith Council’s Thanksgiving celebration will be held online this year on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:00 pm. This year’s celebration will feature important teachings on home and homelessness as well as musical presentations and readings. Click here for more information: https://www.kingstoninterfaithcouncil.org/events-1/interfaith-thanksgiving-service
Ministry Opportunities
Angel Food East Does Thanksgiving! Join the fun (it really is fun!) of preparing Thanksgiving for over 200 people – we’re looking for people to help cook and people to help pack the food into containers. Shifts are available all day on Monday – Wednesday, November 23-25. Speak with Rev. Michelle for more info!
People’s Place Project Santa Sock Drive! What did one new sock say to the other? “Great things are afoot!” It’s Project Santa time again and we’ve been asked by our friends at People’s Place to host a sock drive. All sizes and shapes of new socks will be needed. Plain socks, character socks, slipper socks, heavy winter socks, crew socks and knee socks are needed for infants all the way up to 14 year-old boys and girls. Your donations of new, quality socks will warm the toes and hearts of our young neighbors. Please be generous. You can drop off the socks in the box by the rectory or make a donation and we will shop for you. All donations must be dropped off no later than Sunday, December 6th. Thank you from Elaine Lawrence and Deacon Sue on behalf of the Outreach Committee.
Children’s New Book Drive: Family of Woodstock is in need of books for children who are in or are leaving shelters. If you are coming to in-person church, please consider bringing a new children’s book (all ages). Or send a donation to the church (207 Albany Ave) and we will do the shopping. Questions? Contact Outreach Coordinator Elaine (845-532-6585) or Deacon Sue (845-331-5575).
Have an announcement?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.
friends, Brother Aiden, who is a monk right down the road at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park. I realized upon reading it that it was exactly what I needed to hear and I could not have said it any better myself. So, I ask that you take the time to read this insightful and grounding reflection from Brother Aiden to help see this election from the perspective of the gospel witness.